how to find out year the motor was made?

[Guest]

Hi guys. I'm new to the forum. Last year I put a new motor on my 1980s 850 GSL it's running great but it's leaking good amount of oil (it gets on my boots so I have to put plastic bags over them which doesn't look classy plus they get ripped. not to mention the fumes). I wanna do a whole top end gasket change. The problem is that I don't know which set to buy since I don't know which year the motor I put in was manufactured in. Apparently the motor after 82 is a bit different from the earlier motors. Is there any way to tell them apart? Or can I find out the year by the serial number on the motor? Any help really appreciated. Thanks!

[tkent02]

How many bolt holes are in your valve cover?

That's the biggest difference.

[eudemonis]

gonna have to look up tomorrow...

[eudemonis]

so the only difference is the valve cover gasket?

[Steve]

GS850 engine ID tutorial:

'79 850 had a kick starter, points, VM carbs and a 12-pole stator

'80 and '81 lost the kickstarter (but kept the 'bump'), had CV-type carbs, electronic ignition and 18-pole stator

'82 850 lost the 'bump' on the clutch cover and had 19, instead of 16, bolts on the valve cover

'83 and newer 850s were pretty much the same as the '82, but were painted black

.

[eudemonis]

Great! Thanks a lot Steve (I'll count the bolts but I remember that the valve cover is painted black hehe)

[Steve]

Great! Thanks a lot Steve (I'll count the bolts but I remember that the valve cover is painted black hehe)

Just look along the back edge, just ahead of the carbs.

Are there two or three bolts on each side?

If there are three, the extra one is at the front, just left of the cam chain, for a total of 19.

If you only see two bolts on each side at the back, you have only 16 bolts.

.